The trip up to the first floor floated by me like a dream. I was outside of myself looking in. If Abigail hadn't led the way I would have stopped and found a corner to hide myself away in. With each step I took I wondered if the crushing weight threatening to overwhelm me would finally bore down on me with full force.

Even worse I was sure I was on the verge of a panic attack which reminded me all the more that George, who had so many, was now dead; murdered by the Pied Piper officers whose names I didn't know. I couldn't remember their faces with the exception of the officer which had led the way in; middle-aged, black hair tinged with gray, a hard-lined face that had seen its fair share of trouble. I wondered if that face would be burned into my memory for the rest of my life. Or would I forget his face over time? I didn't know which was worse.

A blur of offices passed me by. It was strangely nice to see something different than the bland white corridors of the third floor again. Abigail continued to pull me along, her small sweaty hand holding mine; her heels clomped on the first floor carpeting. So dark and blue, I thought, looking around. The stress was making me stupid.

We arrived at the top left corner office on the first floor; Robert Hoffman's office; the office belonging to Abigail's Dad.

Robert was standing at his desk with a phone to his ear. He raised a hand for Abigail and I to stay where we were by the doorway.

"He was not a threat," said Robert to whoever he was talking to on the phone. Robert was angry, his wrinkled brow set with even deeper lines than usual.

"I know what he did," said Robert, talking respectfully despite the slight anger in his tone, "I just didn't know this was the wild west where cowboys go shootin' just cos' some kid had a panic attack that got out of hand. No. No I won't. I understand. I said I understand. Hello?"

Whoever was on the other end of the call must have hung up. Robert discarded his phone onto his desk as if he were skimming a rock.

"Dad," said Abigail.

She hurried across the room and started to tidy up the mess her father had made. Robert took a moment to collect himself, holding a hand to his face.

"Burgess, come in," he said, "Close the door behind you please."

I did as he asked, again feeling as if I were having an outer body experience. The feeling wasn't unwelcome. I really didn't want to be myself feeling every horrible feeling that was coursing like acid through my body.

"I want to go home," I said in a trembling voice.

Robert nodded and opened his arms, gesturing for me to come to him. I did so, taking small steps. He walked the breadth of his huge office and embraced me in a hug. It felt like getting hugged by my Dad. For such a short man Robert was stocky, and firm. He held me in a hug for several moments before putting a hand behind my head.

"I'm so sorry, Burgess," he said, "What they did to George is unforgivable."

At that moment I wanted to thrash out of Robert's soft grip, but I fought the urge. He was showing me kindness and as horrible as I felt I wasn't going to throw that aside ungratefully.

"Please," I said, tears running down my cheeks, "I want to go home. Take me on the next flight out."

"Oh, Burgess," said Robert. He embraced me again, firmer the second time. I started to weep the way George had wept. It lasted for several seconds before I managed to get a grip of myself just enough to stop more tears.

Finally Robert released his grip and I eased away from him.

"Take a seat, Burgess," he said.

I sat with him on the sofa, a leg's worth of space between us. He no longer held me but he had his arm reaching over my shoulders as if to let me know I had his undivided attention.

"Abigail," said Robert, giving a nod to his daughter.

Abigail understood what he was asking of her right away. The desk tidied, she kicked off her heels and then crouched down beside me and started to undo the Meter from my wrist. She used her long nails to open it up; she fiddled with some of its inner workings and the lights which told me if I were in the green, orange, or red, went out.

"Is that safe?" I said.

"Ah, would you look at that, the thing's busted," said Robert, but in a way that made me think he was saying it for whoever might be listening in on the Meter to hear.

Abigail dropped the Meter to the floor, grabbed one of her shoes, and smashed it into pieces.

Finished, Abigail scooped up the remains and held them. She moved over to the sofa and sat arm on the other end from us.

"Why am I here?" I said.

"We're keeping you safe from those neanderthals," said Robert. He gestured to Abigail, "If she hadn't gotten to you when she did they would have done the same to you as they did to George."

"Why?" I said, "He wasn't going to hurt them."

"I know, I know," said Robert, "And they knew that too. But the fact of the matter is they don't give a damn. All they needed was an excuse to play cowboy."

"So can I leave?" I said, "Please?"

Robert took a breath.

"No, Burgess," he said, "You don't want to leave."

Before I could protest he raised a hand.

"Burgess," he said, "What I mean to say is you do not want to leave."

He fixed his gaze on me to drive home his point. But I do want to leave, I thought, I do, I do, I do.

"I'm going to have a very frank conversation with you, Burgess," said Robert, "But first I need your word that whatever we discuss won't leave this office?"

I thought about his question for a moment. Did I want to know whatever it was he was about to tell me? Would I be better off not knowing?

"Okay," I said in a whisper.

"Good," said Robert, nodding as if hearing an orchestra play just the way he wanted, "You're not getting out of here on any flight they plan," he said, "Nobody has."

"What about–"

"--nobody, Burgess," said Robert.

"Then where are they?" I said, "The teenagers that left before?"

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"I don't know," said Robert, "They may be somewhere else in the facility. Another floor maybe. Abigail and I don't have access to all the levels."

"What's going on here?" I said, "I thought this was supposed to be a voluntary testing facility."

Robert gave me a pitying look.

"No," he said, "That's just what you were told to make sure you were compliant."

"But it was Abigail who offered me to come here," I said.

I looked at Abigail and she gave me an inscrutable look back.

"She was doing her job because, at the time, she believed the same lies they told you," said Robert, "The same lies they told me. We've learned the truth about what is going on here and we're not going to stand for it. Ain't that right, honey-bee?"

"That's right, Dad," said Abigail.

"What's going on here?" I said.

"Control, Burgess," said Robert, "The Pied Piper operation is about making sure as many mice are corralled into one place as possible. Every step of the evacuation has been designed to separate the powered from the regular."

"The Meters are fake, aren't they?" I said.

Robert nodded, "Yes," he said.

"And the spontaneous-combustions?" I said.

"Fake too," said Robert, "A fiction concocted by the Pied Piper higher ups to justify the entire operation. Order out of chaos."

My friend's right, I thought. I smirked at the realisation that my friend had been right this entire time for the simple wisdom of not trusting the government.

"Who is in charge of all this?" I said.

"Hundreds of people in high places," said Robert, "The rabbit hole goes deep."

"I just want to go home," I said, "How do I get home?"

"There is no going home for you, Burgess," said Robert, "My boy you have to understand the predicament you're in. You're not just up against the Pied Piper operation; every government in the world, bar a few, are lock-step in their mission to make sure mice like you don't become the next global catastrophe. The spontaneous-combustions might be false but you've started to see first hand the kind of things you and your fellow inmates are capable of. That's right now, what about tomorrow? What about in ten years? The powers that be in the world want to maintain the status quo and any threat to it; especially an existential one like you mice, is unconscionable."

"This means there is no going home for you anymore, Burgess. You can't waltz out of here and go have a cup of tea at home with Mommy. You're on the books; they have your DNA samples; there's not a city in the world where you could hide on your own initiative."

"Then what can I do?" I said, "Help me. Please."

I could see Robert starting to become emotional himself, the corners of his mouth tugged down as if fish hooks were in them.

"I am going to help you," he said, "But I need you to work with me if I'm going to get you out of here."

"What do I need to do?" I said.

"Right now? You need to keep your head and look out for yourself in this place," said Robert, "Abigail and I will do everything we can but we don't have control over the Pied Piper officers. If they're given an excuse to take you out they'll do it."

"What do you get out of this?" I said. It was a bold question, but given the state I was in I didn't care.

"I see a bright future, Burgess," said Robert, "I don't fear mice like you. I see potential. I've built many powerful connections over a very long career. I can do what I can to get you out of here and keep you safe, but it isn't going to be a free ticket. Do you understand?"

It took me a few moments to understand the implications of what Robert was saying. No free ticket. Powerful connections. I didn't think Robert was the type to have kept his hands clean of trouble.

"You want to use me?" I said.

"I want to help you," said Robert, "But there ain't no such thing as a free lunch. You come with me and Abigail and you'll have to do things to survive you won't like. But you'll have an edge. You'll have your powers."

Robert could see the hesitation apparent on my face.

"Or," he said, "You can be a fish in a barrel here and wait until they decide your time is up."

He lent forward.

"And they won't stop with you, Burgess," he said, "They'll come for your family. You don't think they let you talk to your mother out of the goodness of their hearts, do you, my boy? That was them laying the groundwork to let you know they have access to your family to make sure they can keep you in line."

My heart, which already felt like it had been repeatedly stabbed, endured its largest yet, as if a sword were being driven right through it.

"If you want out of here with us," said Robert, "I'll make sure your family is safe. I'll give you my word."

Silence filled the office. It was all so much to take in. Most of all my concern for my family burned at the fore of my mind. No matter what I had to keep them safe. It was because of me they were in danger in the first place.

"Why do I have powers in the first place?" I said.

Robert forced a smile, "Nobody knows. Thousands of tests, observations; they still don't know. Or if they do the likes of Abigail and I haven't been made privy to it."

"Is the Golden Sky real?" I said.

"As far as we know," said Robert, "If there's an answer to all this we don't have it."

My head was throbbing. Every thought hurt but I had to concentrate.

"When can I leave?" I said.

"As soon as I can arrange for it," said Robert, "It will take time. Weeks."

"Weeks?" I said, in dismay.

Robert didn't try to explain to me why it would take that long. I could only imagine the amount of hoops and favors it would take to circumvent the will of governments around the world; the kind of connections Robert would need to have to be able to pull something like this off. Somehow I had made a powerful friend.

"Why me?" I said.

"You've got your head glued on," said Robert, "I don't know for sure but I think you're a good kid. Are you going to prove me wrong?"

I shook my head, "No," I said, "Not if I can help it."

Robert broke into a smile and patted me on the shoulder. Without meaning to, he gave away how little he was concerned about George. I'm what he wants, I thought, George be damned.

I decided then I didn't trust Robert. Not at all. But the question was did I trust him enough to take the ticket he was offering out of the facility?

I considered for a moment how far I might be able to get on my own. Maybe I could escape the facility – going up the elevator didn't seem that tough an ask. I didn't know where the facility was; it could be France, England, Wales (the helicopter flight was thirty-to-forty-ish minutes, so we couldn't be that far all things considered). Could I survive as a fugitive on the run, with the full force of the government tracking me down? I had seen how impossible it was for criminals to escape police vehicles in car chases on TV.

What would I do for money? Where would I stay? Who could I trust? How long would I have to be on the run for?

I had already considered this line of questioning a hundred times before during my stay at the facility. The ugly truth was that I wouldn't get far at all as I currently was. Coiling up wouldn't protect me from machine gun fire. Maybe, maybe I could survive on my own eventually, assuming my powers continued to grow; but what if they didn't? What if I had already plateaued? What if the Pied Piper officers murdered me before I had the time to grow into my powers proper?

I needed more time.

All of a sudden Tiffany's face flashed in my mind. Not the model-esque version she had used her power to become, but the one that had been my friend; who had promised to stick with me through thick and thin way back in Lintern Village. She might have made some distance between us and I didn't understand why, even so, I wanted to continue to honor our agreement.

"Is it just me?" I said, "What about everybody else here?"

"We can't help everyone, Burgess," said Abigail from behind me.

"But we will help as many as we can," said Robert, "You can help us decide who'll be a good fit for a ticket out of here."

I started to say Tiffany's name but Robert raised a hand.

"Not now, my boy. First you need to take some time alone to put yourself back together. We need you strong up here," Robert pointed to his temple, "You can't break, Burgess. You don't have that luxury."

I nodded. "I understand," I said, "I won't break."

"That's right," said Robert, winking at me with pride.

Abigail stood up.

"Time to go," she said, "You can stay down on the fourth floor for a few days until things have calmed down. Let's go."

She slipped on her heels and then gave Robert a firm hug. I had more questions to ask Robert but the siren song of being someplace alone to gather my thoughts was too strong to protest.

"Remember," said Robert, "Not a word to anyone about this. We'll be in touch."

I nodded and left with Abigail.